That didn’t take long. Already, people who think they’re super funny in 140 characters or less are cracking jokes about a prominent man supposedly sleeping with a teenage boy. We knew that some wouldn’t be able to control themselves when the news broke that Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer behind Sesame Street‘s Elmo, was taking a leave of absence after allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old boy.

However, I have to admit that I was both shocked and a little disturbed that it wasn’t just immature teens with a couple dozen followers making inappropriate Twitter jokes about a very serious case. It seems like even well-established media personalities, comedians, and writers just couldn’t help themselves with the “Tickle Me Elmo” crap.

Just to be clear, those jokes aren’t funny. They aren’t appropriate. While we’re still talking about unsubstantiated charges that Clash vehemently denies, the possibility that this young man was taken advantage of by a successful actor is real. Both Kevin Clash and his accuser deserve to have this situation be treated with respect. Having sex with minors isn’t a joke, and plenty of these people should know that. Yet, here they are, making sad jokes about the actor behind a beloved childhood character possibly having an inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy.

eh, i didn’t find anything wrong with any of those tweets. the tweets are supposed to be funny. if someone doesn’t find the tweets humorous, it doesn’t necessarily make them crass or inappropriate.

“Both Kevin Clash and his accuser deserve to have this situation be treated with respect.”

Kevin Clash deserves due process, and if necessary a fair trial where he is considered innocent until proven guilty by a jury of his peers.

Kevin Clash does not “deserve” anyone’s respect though.

Those tweets were making fun of Elmo/Kevin Clash, not making fun of pedophilia.

And I’ll be damned if an accused child molester deserves to be exempt from social ribbing!

Peter Voth

What is a joke is that consensual sex between two biological adults is considered illegal in your country. I’m glad I live in a free country where such a relationship is legal and would not persecuted. And calling a man a pedophile and a child molester for having sex with a 16 year-old is nothing short of insanity.

alice

those labels – on my part – were slightly tongue in cheek. mommyish usually takes a very vocal stance against any this stuff (which is reasonable) so it’s really strange for me that this article in part was shaming anyone who shamed Kevin Clash.

if we were talking about a teenage girl reporting sexual abuse against a 45 year old hollywood director, i doubt there would be any sympathizing with the accused.

http://www.xojane.com/author/eve Eve Vawter

Um, a 45 year old man , if he has sex with a 16 year old, IS a child molester.

jack_sprat2

Not where he lives, nor in Michigan, where I do. Now, it may make him a sleaze ball, but that’s another story entirely. But, I’ll be prepared to get more exercised about it when women start insisting on similarly harsh attitudes and sanctions against those women for whom turnabout seems fair play. There’ve been an awful lot of suspended sentences and probations.

http://www.xojane.com/author/eve Eve Vawter

Yeah I hear you. I think sleazeball is a good term

Anon

whats it like being on that high horse of yours Mr. Delaney?

Bob

Whats it like on that high horse of yours Mr. Delaney?

Jan

My daughter is afraid of Tickle Me Elmo but she love her TickleMe Plant . The leaves fold and the branches droop when you Tickle It!
This is a real house plant!! http://www.ticklemeplant.com See video

yomomma

Ur just jealous Elmo didn’t molest u first fn douche

jack_sprat2

Probably holding out for Jerry Lewis.

jack_sprat2

I’m a little ambivalent about this. In Michigan, that kid is perfectly legal. Just as it is so in most of Europe. (Those of you who have HS kids who do the hostel and Eurail thing can best believe that your 16 and 17 year old daughters are looking for an older, more “worldly” conquest.)